PBBM to PNP: Prioritize child protection, cybercrime training
FOCUSING on more measures specifically training of more anti-cybercrime officers needed to address online child exploitation and abuse in the country is what President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wants the Philippine National Police (PNP) headed by General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil to continue.
The Commander-in-Chief made this clear during his meeting with top PNP officials in Camp Crame Thursday last week where he congratulated the 232,000-strong national police force for a job well done in fighting criminality and greatly reducing the crime volume in the
According to PNP spokesperson, Brigadier Gen. Jean S. Fajardo, one of the issues raised by the Chief Executive during the National Peace and Order Council meeting and subsequent PNP Command Conference was the growing cases of child abuse particularly those involving online sex predators.
The President noted that although there have been many police ‘success stories’ when it comes to fighting child predators in the country, the fact remains that the police force needs to capacitate its personnel in terms of training to combat sex fiends and their cohorts who continue to change their modus operandi to avoid detection by authorities.
Brig. Gen. Fajardo said President Marcos even cited some ‘horrible cases’ of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children where some of the victims are very small and young kids whose parents are abroad and left under the case of their guardians who in some case ends up as their tormentors.
The United Nations Children Education Fund or UNICEF, in an article said that in 2021 alone, two million children in The Philippines were subjected to online sexual abuse and exploitation.
In a country where children are known to spend more time online than ever before, the UNICEF article said that children have reported experiencing grooming and receiving offers of gifts or money in exchange for sexual acts.
The agency thus underscored the importance of adults, children, and the whole of society in growing their understanding of children’s online safety and everyone’s digital responsibility to ensure a safe online environment for every child.
Acting on the matter, President Marcos ordered the PNP focus on more measures that will address exploitation of children in the country particularly in investigating cases of violation of Republic Act 11930 or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material Act enacted to protect kids in The Philippines against online predators.
The Commander-in-Chief also highlighted the need for the police force to embark on more cybercrime training ahead of their effort to ensure a peaceful and orderly May 12, 2025 national and local elections.
Presiding over the PNP command conference at Camp, President Marcos Jr. provided the strategic guidance on key law enforcement and public safety initiatives.
During the conference, he highlighted the need for the PNP to remain proactive and vigilant in addressing emerging challenges, among which was the urgent need to strengthen cybercrime prevention through advanced training for police personnel.
Recognizing the growing threat in the digital landscape, the President underscored the importance of equipping the PNP with the necessary skills and tools to combat cybercrime effectively.
The Chief Executive stressed that no crime is worse than the exploitation of children, urging the police force to intensify efforts in protecting the youth from all forms of abuse and exploitation.
This aligns with his administration’s commitment to safeguarding vulnerable sectors of society, officials said.
The Command Conference underscored the PNP’s commitment to upholding its mandate and aligning its operations with the priorities set by the national leadership, contributing to the vision of a Bagong Pilipinas, said Brig. Gen. Fajardo.
Before the conference, the 2nd Joint National Peace and Order Council (NPOC) and Regional Peace and Order Councils (RPOCs) also convened at the same venue. The event, led by Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla and graced by President Marcos, gathered NPOC and RPOC leaders, DILG Regional Directors, key officials, and Secretariat members to discuss initiatives focused on strengthening national peace and security.
